Banda Sea 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Darwin

Banda Sea 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Darwin
5.7 Magnitude earthquake reported in Banda Sea, north of Northern Territory on Nov. 1, 2020. (Geoscience Australia [CC By 4.0])
AAP
By AAP
11/1/2020
Updated:
11/1/2020

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Indonesia’s Banda Sea has rattled Darwin.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 185 kilometres about 1:15 p.m. local time, reported Geoscience Australia.

More than 200 people in the Northern Territory over 500 kilometres away reported they felt the quake.

The Bureau of Meteorology says there is no tsunami threat to Australia or any of its islands or territories.

In May earlier this year, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the same region—no damage was caused.

According to United States Geological Survey the largest Pacific region quake in history was 8.5 magnitude in the Banda sea in between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia in 1938.

The earthquake caused great damage by creating a 1.5-metre high tsunami. It was even was felt at Port Darwin, northern Australia over 700 kilometres away.

The Epoch Times contributed to this article.